Two Sides of Faith
Christian faith and suffering.
This is the faith story we like:
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophetsβwho through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Heb. 11:32β34)
This is the faith story that terrifies:
Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreatedβofΒ whom the world was not worthy. (Heb. 11:36β38)
God records that both life and death, if done in faith, advance the gospel and give glory to God. Christians ought never to despise suffering for Christ. And as we are seeing today and have seen throughout church history, all true Christians will suffer for the truth of Christ.
As we face inevitable suffering, we must pray for increased faith to endure to the end. We who believe the whole gospel must take care of each other, joining together in worship, prayer, and the practice of hospitality.
God records that both life and death, if done in faith, advance the gospel and give glory to God. Christians ought never to despise suffering for Christ. And as we are seeing today and have seen throughout church history, all true Christians will suffer for the truth of Christ.
Source: Β©Rosaria Butterfield, Five Lies of our Anti-Christ Age, 2023, Crossway
God, who does not lie, promised. (Titus 1:2)
Faith is not conjuring up, through an act of your will, a sense of certainty that something is going to happen. No, it is recognizing Godβs promise as an actual fact, believing it is true, rejoicing in the knowledge of that truth, and then simply resting because God said it.
Faith turns a promise into a prophecy. A promise is contingent upon our cooperation, but when we exercise genuine faith in it, it becomes a prophecy. Then we can move ahead with certainty that it will come to pass, because βGodΒ .Β .Β . does not lie.β
Source: Days of Heaven upon Earth
I often hear people praying for more faith, but when I listen carefully to them and get to the essence of their prayer, I realize it is not more faith they are wanting at all. What they are wanting is their faith to be changed to sight.
Faith does not say, βI see this is good for me; therefore God must have sent it.β Instead, faith declares, βGod sent it; therefore it must be good for me.β
Faith, when walking through the dark with God, only asks Him to hold his hand more tightly.
~ Phillips Brooks
The Shepherd does not ask of thee
Faith in your faith, but only faith in Him;
And this He meant in saying, βCome to me.β
In light or darkness seek to do His will,
And leave the work of faith to Jesus still.
Source: Alisa Childers
Now that we understand the practical angle of how suffering helps develop character, we turn back to Paul, who put it this way in Romans 5:3-5: βWe rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because Godβs love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.β
According to Paul, suffering is something we should actually rejoice in.
James agrees: βCount it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastnessβ (James 1:2-3).
The apostle Peter tells us, βBeloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christβs sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealedβ (1Β Peter 4:12-13).
To Some Christian influencers, suffering is anathema to faith. But listen to what Apostle Paul has to say on this subject.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18